id with small pieces of silver, which at first I imagined were
purely ornamental On looking closer, however, I perceived that each of
them contained a name and a date, with an ominous phrase beneath, which
ran thus: 'Killed!'or thus: 'Wounded!'

'Egad,' thought I, 'they are certainly the coolest people in the world
in this island, and have the strangest notions withal of cheering a
man's courage!'

It was growing late, meanwhile; so that without further loss of time
I sprang out of bed, and set about dressing, huddling my papers and
Julia's portrait into my writing-desk. I threw into the fire a few
letters, and was looking about my room lest anything should have escaped
me, when suddenly the quick movement of horses' feet on the pavement
beneath drew me to the window. As I looked out, I could just catch a
glimpse of O'Grady's figure as he sprang from a high tandem; I then
heard his foot as he mounted the stairs, and the next moment he was
knocking at my door. 'Holloa!' cried he, 'by Jove, I have had a night
of it! Help me off with the coat, Jack, and order breakfast, with any
number of mutton-chops you please; I never felt so voracious in my life.
Early rising must be a bad thing for the health, if it makes a man's
appetite so painful.'

While I was giving my necessary directions, O'Grady stirred up the fire,
drew his chair close to it, and planting his feet upon the fender, and
expanding his hands before the blaze, called out--

'Yes, yes, quite right--cold ham and a devilled drumstick by all means;
the mulled claret must have nothing but cloves and a slice of pine-apple
in it; and, mind, don't let them fry the kidneys in champagne; they are
fifty times better in moselle: we'll have the champagne _au naturel_,
There, now, shut the door; there's a confounded current of air comes
up that cold staircase. So, come over, my boy; let me give you all the
news, and to begin:--

'After I parted with you, I went over to De Vere's quarters, and heard
that he had just changed his clothes and driven over to Clare Street. I
followed immediately; but, as ill-luck would have it, he left that just
five minutes before, with Watson of the Fifth, who lives in one of the
hotels near. This, you know, looked like business; and, as they told me
they were to be back in half an hour, I cut into a rubber of whist with
Darcy and the rest of them, where, what between losing heavily, and
waiting for those fellows, I never got up till half-past